Associations between exposure to extreme ambient heat and neural tube defects in Georgia, USA: A population-based case-control study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The association between extreme ambient heat exposures during pregnancy and neural tube defects (NTDs) in offspring remains unclear. This study sought to estimate the association between exposure to extreme ambient heat during periconception and NTDs.

Methods

This population-based case-control study in Georgia, USA (1994-2017) included 825 isolated NTD cases (473 anencephaly, 352 spina bifida) and 3,300 controls matched 1:4 on county of residence and time period of delivery. Daily ambient temperature data were linked to fetal death and birth records by county of residence. Extreme ambient heat exposure was defined as the number of consecutive days the daily apparent temperature exceeded the county-specific 95th percentile (derived over 1980-2010) during an eight

SUBMITTER: LaPointe S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11390300 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature